All posts by karimkanji

Second last week of 2007 and here’s some late, breakin’ news for YOU!

Royal LePage is forecasting a great 2008 in real estate. You’re kidding…

This just in: The Real Estate Boom is over. At least in Edmonton, Alberta.

This just in: The Real Estate Boom is starting. At least in Newfoundland!

With Toronto’s new Land Transfer tax coming in 2008 some are wondering if this will force business and real estate out of 416 and into 905. Here‘s a take on it.

More news on the US Real Estate crash. 2008 may be worse than 2007. (Sell your bank stocks…I’m just saying…)

Chris Bradley is giving back. Although this may be part good stuff and part publicity, this blogger thinks this is a good idea that should be copied.

Congratulations to Women Canadian Entreprenuer of the year…a Toronto based Realtor. Read on!

First time buyers are helping to keep the resale market strong. Century 21 Report.

A Boxing Story (Thanks to the Toronto Star)

This boxing story has yet to have an end. There is a beginning and a middle. However, the ending has yet to be written. What is holding this back? Some say it’s self image. Belief in one’s self is vitally important. Especially in the harsh world of amateur boxing. I hope you enjoy the read.

THE FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES: A BOXING STORY

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

THE PLAYERS

Chris Johnson
Age: 36
The past: Born in Jamaica and raised in Kitchener, he started boxing at 9 years old. As an amateur, he won more than 230 bouts, including medals at the Commonwealth Games (gold) and the Olympics (bronze). As a pro, he won 26 of 30 fights but retired after a brain injury suffered in the ring.
The present: Runs a gym, Chris Johnson’s Fighting Alliance, in central Mississauga. He trains amateurs and a handful of pros, including his wife, Natalie Brown, and world champ Steve Molitor. Hopes to make Canada a world power in Olympic and pro boxing.

Shevar Henry
Age: 21
The past: Born in Toronto and raised in Brampton, he started boxing as a 17-year-old heavyweight and won a provincial junior title the next year. He hasn’t competed since September 2006, when he shattered his right hand in a street fight.
The present: Taking a break from Sheridan College to concentrate on boxing. Hopes to qualify for the 2008 Olympics despite a hand that hasn’t fully healed.

Steve Rolls
Age: 23
The past: Born in Hamilton, he was adopted by a Chatham family at six weeks old. Dabbled in music and other sports before settling on boxing at 16.
The present: Has won nearly 50 bouts and plans to go pro after fighting in the Olympics, but nagging self-doubt stands between him and his goals.

When Steve Rolls steps into the ring, it’s often his own fear of failure that emerges as the real opponent

MORGAN CAMPBELL

WINDSOR – Steve Rolls spears his sparring partner with a jab, then glides away untouched.
A provincial champ last year, he’s on a squad selected to help Canada’s national team prepare for the world championships. He’s here to spar with Windsor’s Adam Trupish, the reigning welterweight national champ.

For Rolls, a Chatham native training in Mississauga, sparring’s not a problem. With no judges and no pressure, his punches flow like poetry and he looks like an Olympian. He’s chased that dream for seven years. But in competition, it’s different. Dogged by stage fright, Rolls sometimes freezes when stakes are high.

They’re higher than ever today, as he lances Trupish again.

To qualify for Beijing, Rolls must defeat Trupish, a 2004 Olympian. Trupish lost in Athens and refused opportunities to turn pro. He wants redemption in Beijing.

Nobody keeps score, but national team coaches watch closely. If Rolls stands strong against Trupish he won’t just prove he’s an Olympic contender. He’ll earn a victory over fear.
The session unfolds like a debate – Rolls cleverly arguing he’s Canada’s best welterweight, Trupish rebutting with sheer volume. Rolls sticks and moves, Trupish stalks and swings. He bulls Rolls into a corner and hooks hard to the body.

At 28, Trupish brings nearly 200 bouts of experience into the ring. He also brings a black eye from yesterday’s session with Rolls, who spins him then throws three body shots.

Pop, pop, POP!

Rolls fires four more and Trupish launches an overhand right that sends Rolls staggering across the ring at the buzzer.

Point. Counterpoint. Time.

Early in Steve Rolls’ fights, opponents run from him. Wary of his speed and skill but unsure he’ll use them, they circle, trying to read him.

If his head’s in the fight, he usually leaves them two options: a loss on points or loss by stoppage.
But if it’s in Steve’s World, anything can happen.

There, fear of failure collides with fear of success. He second-guesses every move, paralyzed by questions.

What if I can’t hurt this guy?

What if he can hurt me?

What if I don’t give my best effort?

What if I do and it’s not good enough?

Self-doubt forms a shell his coach can’t penetrate. Fights he should win big become slim victories. Slim victories become frustrating losses.

Rolls is one of Canada’s best welterweights, but he’s lost his last two fights. His coach, former Olympic bronze medallist Chris Johnson, thinks Rolls would have blown out both opponents if he had just let his hands go.

Sometimes Johnson wishes Rolls were more like Shevar Henry, the heavyweight he coaches who, like Rolls, hopes the provincial championships will vault him into Olympic contention.
Johnson sometimes doubts Henry’s dedication, but can’t question his confidence. Where uncertainty defines Rolls’ bouts, Henry, a national junior silver medallist in 2004, brings a sense of inevitability. He’s sure he’s faster, stronger and smarter than his opponent, and plans to prove it once the bell rings.

He’s so self-assured that despite taking a year off with a broken right hand, he wants to move up in weight.

Right now he’s 12 pounds above the 201-pound heavyweight limit and would rather stay strong and fight super-heavyweight than weaken himself by cutting weight. He’ll face guys 30 pounds heavier, but doesn’t think they’ll touch him. And if his hand holds up, you may as well crown him champion.

That’s what he believes, anyway.

As the debate rages, Steve Rolls is the fearless fighter he wants to be; the boxer his coaches wish would show up when it counts. He blends offence and defence, mixes movement and pressure, and takes shots without flinching. Right now he’s getting the best of a four-time national champ.

He backs Trupish into the ropes and wings a left hook. He pauses, worried the punch landed low.
“Sorry, man,” he says, without backing up.

“Naw,” Trupish says, bobbing, weaving. “You were okay.”

Suddenly Trupish springs forward with a left hook. Rolls rocks back and Trupish’s fist whistles past his chin. Rolls steps in and smashes his face with a straight right.

Point. Counterpoint. Time.

Most days, Rolls slinks into the gym late in the afternoon. He’ll say hello to Chris and Shevar, peel off layers of baggy clothes, and warm up in silence.

Rolls speaks volumes when he spars, but might not utter 10 words all afternoon.

But his parents, Gary and Barb Rolls, say Steve loved the spotlight as a child. They even bought him a guitar, and when he wasn’t writing songs he would sing them in the living room. Barb says Steve has a beautiful voice, though she hasn’t heard him sing in years.

The Rollses adopted Steve at six weeks old. Born in Hamilton, he went from the delivery room to a foster family to the Rolls home, where he joined one of Chatham’s most established African-Canadian families. Neither Steve nor his folks have met his birth parents. They only know his mother was in college. They’re not sure Steve’s biological father knows he exists.

But it’s clear his natural parents blessed him with long arms, uncanny reflexes and a knack for sports.

Problem is, none held his attention. At 11 Steve was his baseball team’s MVP. Then he quit.
Same with soccer and basketball. But at 15, just when it seemed Steve wouldn’t stick with anything, a friend suggested he try boxing. Since then it’s been his life.

After graduating from high school he joined a gym in Akron, Ohio. Found them online, packed up and moved. A rash decision but Barb supported it, happy Steve had found a passion. Gary, however, was skeptical. He didn’t think living in sleepy Chatham gave Steve the street smarts to survive down south.

In Akron, Steve did odd jobs for his coach and competed across the midwest, but without the proper visa he couldn’t work a legitimate job. Without money, he returned to Canada, moving to Toronto in 2004. He joined a gym in Parkdale, where he met Shevar and Johnson.

The coach says he recognized Rolls’ talent right away, and pushed him to maximize it. When he pushed too hard, Rolls left for another coach. They reunited last month.

A bronze medallist in 1992 in Barcelona, Johnson swears Rolls has the talent to reach the podium, but he’s not sure Rolls believes it himself.

Rolls and Trupish had never sparred before this week, but as the session ends each has made his point. Rolls, quicker and slicker, dominates from long range. Trupish, stronger and cagier, wins exchanges inside.

Rolls circles left and lashes Trupish with a jab. Trupish slides right and clubs Rolls’ ribs. Rolls stops and drives a right hand between Trupish’s gloves.

Later, they stand silently at ringside. Rolls removes his headgear. Trupish unwraps his hands.
Next week, Trupish heads to Chicago for the world championships. He’ll make the Olympics with a top-eight finish. Next month Rolls returns to Windsor for the provincials. A top-two finish sends him to the nationals and, he hopes, a showdown with Trupish.

The veteran won’t just give Rolls his Olympic spot, but he gives credit. He taps Rolls on the shoulder and tells him he’s got a great jab.

Rolls grins and thanks him.

Point. Counterpoint. Time.

Impact of the Mitchell Report on a Father & Son

Impact of the Mitchell Report on a Father & Son

Well, as many of you who are not hibernating know, yesterday MLB received it’s report card. It’s popularly known as The Mitchell Report.

Among other things, it paints the Rogers Centre as the Canadian epicenter for Roids. Kinda like a BALCO – North. That’s the way I see it anyhow. And the ramifications are endless. No doubt, you will read, hear and watch as experts and non-experts alike pontificate on the future and past of MLB. This note will not touch on any of that.This note is dedicated to one Kahzmir Amin Kanji.

Kahzmir turned 21 months old on the day Senator Mitchell released his much anticipated report on MLB and Roids.

So, Kahzmir, I turn to you and ask you what I should do? We have a Troy Glaus special edition baseball card. Also, we have that cute little bobblehead of Greg Zaun. I know You really like the way his head bobbles. We also have a signed picture of him. Now, I know you can’t answer me. And even if you could you know how it goes…Father makes decision for son because son is too young to know any different.

But I think you know what to do. You already know that a sugar rush from chocolate is not the best thing for you. And you really hate neddles when Mom takes you to the Doctor. I can’t see you appreciating the dark science of drugs and baseball. Myself? I hate cheater-cheater pumpkin eaters. Cheaters for sure. Pumpkin eaters? Not so much.

So, here’s what I’m gonna do Kahzmir. I’m gonna take our tainted memorabilia to Gate 9 of the Rogers Centre and drop it off at Godfrey’s office. I’m going to tell him that he and the rest of MLB better start getting their act together. And fast. I really would like to tell MLB to take their bobbleheads, turn it sideways and….well, you get the picture.

I don’t want to see roided up meat heads. I don’s care if a player has to take a year off to rehab instead of 6 months. I want to take my son to watch a ball game. I want to see a pitcher master the strike zone. I want to see John Macdonald dive into shallow left and throw a runner out at first. I want to watch a player stretch a single into a double.

I want to watch 9 innings of baseball played between 2 white lines. I don’t want to watch 9 innings of baseball played in the dark confines of hotel rooms or laboratories.

Hey Kahzmir – Let’s Play Ball!

Karim

Only the whole person is a holy person….

Only the whole person is a holy person.

In the East, many have condemned the body or the physical world saying that matter doesn’t matter. Likewise, traditional religion in the West has suppressed the sensual world, often calling material and physical pleasures carnal and sinful.

However in the secular West, we’ve often made matter all that matters, worshiping on the altar of the physical body and its toys and trinkets.

I submit to you that “poor” is a state of mind, heart and soul, and not just a financial state. Just like true Harmonic Wealth is so much more than what’s in your wallet. And I’ve got news for you… While I can’t say that every person who’s rich is spiritual, I can assure you that those who are poor are not spiritual!

Reread that last paragraph and be sure you understand this new definition of “poor.”
So many religions of the East and fundamentalists of the West want to condemn society at large for chasing after illusion, for being caught up in the materialistic mind. I can agree with that on one level… but there’s more to the equation.

I’m tired of the individuals that are so “spiritual” and yet they are always sick and broke!
This is NOT spirituality. Jesus wore a seamless robe (the most expensive garment of his day), had a treasurer (so he must have had some money) and, to my knowledge, was never documented as being physically sick.

The reason that many remain poor is because they’ve denied the physical world. You are a spiritual being having a PHYSICAL experience (remember that… Chardin had it right). Therefore, I guarantee that your Creative Source did not send you here to suffer and deny the physical experience. That makes no sense at all.

Both of these arguments are only half right, which means that neither are playing with a full deck.

No person who is half can be whole, and no person that is not whole can be holy.

Your goal must be to be truly whole: wealthy in body, health, relationships, finances, meditation, science and spirituality. The student can sample fine wine, food, clothing, art and music, dance on the beach and sing in the rain. And at the same time, the same student can enjoy the depth of consciousness and the heights of energy that belong to all the truly spiritual. The true student is a harmony of male and female energies, yin and yang, physical and spiritual.

The material minded are hollow. They have no eternal significance… only momentary, fleeting pleasure. Driven by the ego, this person finds him or herself constantly tiring of all accomplishments and acquisitions.

The insatiable thirst of the ego is driven by one motivation, and that motivation is “More!”
Conversely, the renouncing, reclusive and suppressive “spiritual student” is hollow as well… Missing the entire opportunity of the physical plane… Missing the joy, the beauty, the heights and the depths of the human experience… Longing to be elsewhere and often thinking that their reward lies in the next life. To these half men and women I ask, “Why do you think you are here?”

Every master I’ve ever studied or have had the privilege to meet have had a great sense of humor and experienced a tremendous amount of fun and joy!

Wisdom is being fully engaged in all of life and yet detached from outcome. Prediction and control are the domain of the ego and are both illusion. Live life to the fullest in all areas… This is your birthright.

To your continued wealth and happiness,

James Arthur Ray
President/CEO
James Ray International

Inspiration from the fires.

October 22, 20074:45 PM

Friends,

At the time of writing, my home and office have been evacuated due to the fires raging in the San Diego area, and the James Ray International office will be closed until it’s deemed safe to return by the authorities. The website will continue operate, and I’ll post updates there as they are needed.

These are the worst fires in California history, and San Diego County’s been declared in a state of emergency.

Regardless of where you reside right now, I encourage you to take heart and realize that pain is a signal to grow instead of suffer. Yes, difficulties will come in life… And don’t get me wrong, the thought of boxing up a few valuables from my home is as unattractive to me as it is to anyone.
Regardless, it’s in the times of apparent challenge that we test who we really are. The Law of Attraction, which is so popular right now, states that you’ll attract who and what you are into your life. This doesn’t mean that we should blame ourselves for the fires raging like so many in the media have misinterpreted. Rather everything is your responsibility and nothing is your fault.

Please read that again.

If you dissect the word (response-ability), you find it really means “the ability to respond.” How we choose our responses is what we’ll continue to attract, create and become. To think that your life will be challenge free is illusion. Challenges are the way we test how much we have or have not developed our ability to respond.

I encourage you to take heart. Realize that in every challenge there is a gift. That’s why in the esoteric traditions the Philosopher’s Stone (another term for enlightenment) is always found in a pile of dung. Likewise, in Buddhism the thousand-petal lotus of enlightenment always grows from the muck and mire. Is there a metaphor here? Yes, there obviously is.

The Christian prophet stated to, “Judge not by appearances.” I encourage you in all situations in life to not to see them as a blessing or a curse. Rather, see them as an opportunity to test your level of ability to respond. To go “three for three.” Think, feel and act in accordance with what you choose versus appearances.

Ask the questions: “What does this teach me about me? What can I learn about me and the world from this situation? How can I use this situation to grow and become more?”
Maybe it causes you to take and inventory of what’s truly important in your life…
Maybe it connects you more deeply with your family…

It could cause you to open your heart and realize the power of helping your neighbor…
Or maybe it allows you to notice how your response is more empowered than in past situations…

When you find the goodness and gifts in all life’s situations, even the most difficult, the universe guarantees more goodness and gifts.

In the meantime, in case you’re wondering, we’re all in good hands and spirits here at James Ray International and we’re available for service in our community.

For more information on how you can help those affected by the fires, please visit the San Diego Red Cross website.

To your continued harmony and fulfillment,

James Arthur Ray
President/CEO
James Ray International